Rep. Mark Batinick (R-Plainfield) insists he hasn’t spent a lot of time stressing over Illinois Lottery Control Board Chairman Blair Garber’s recent condemnation of the city of East St. Louis because he’s been too busy setting the record straight over what he sees as distortions regarding another state.

Mickey Straub thinks about the recent social media comments made by Blair Gerber ridiculing East St. Louis as the “sh**hole of the universe” and is as grateful as he’s ever been for the up-close and personal time he’s had to interact with voters on his own.

Mickey Straub sizes up Gov. Bruce Rauner’s first term in office by arguing that avoiding a debate with Republican primary challenger Rep. Jeanne Ives (R-Wheaton) is one of the smartest things he’s done.

Mickey Straub is accusing his opponent in the GOP primary, Rep. Jim Durkin (R-Western Springs), who is also the House minority leader, of using his power as a lawmaker to put forth legislation that helps his law firm pad its bottom line.

Mickey Straub thinks the fact that the staffs of two powerful Illinois politicians are now ensnared in the same “massive contract” controversy indicates just how dysfunctional things have become in Springfield.

Laurie McPhillips sees and hears every day what a recent IRS study -- detailing that more than 86,000 people left Illinois at an adjusted gross income cost of nearly $5 billion over 12 months -- revealed to everyone.

Mickey Straub feels a new IRS report detailing how more than 86,000 people left Illinois at a cost of nearly $5 billion in just a year’s time highlights the battle being waged for the soul of the state.

Rep. Mark Batinick (R-Plainfield) warns that the greater devil in recent news that more than 86,000 people fled Illinois at an adjusted gross income cost of nearly $5 billion lies in the details of a revealing IRS study.